Will school weapon detections cause class time delay?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If you have first period off for plan/ipr you can be assigned the duty. No training needed.

I’d be sending gift baskets weekly to whoever in charge of making schedules and asking to never have a first period free then!

If you don't have this duty then it's bathroom duty, cafeteria duty, etc. later in the day. There are no good options and the extra duties this year are really taking a toll on staff morale.

Unfortunately it’s required for student safety. There are vapes and weapons being brought to school. The detectors and supervision in the halls/bathroom areas help address vaping, fighting, bullying, assaults, and more. FCPS could also ask for parent volunteers. Elementary teachers have always had duties as part of their day. Most parents are thankful for the extra safety precautions and staff supervision. I wish teachers had more time, but FCPS could choose to hire more security guards or allow parebt volunteers. Money could be taken from other places in the budget to fund this. This is an FCPS problem.

Speak for yourself. I and many other parents think this is a performance on par with what Trump is currently doing downtown. The kids aren't safer. There are still plenty of ways for an enterprising student to get a weapon in -- none of the items being put to the side (water bottles, three-ring binders) are getting secondary screening -- and we're increasing the danger by assembling a large group of sitting ducks daily. This is money taken from actual education and spent instead on creating a false sense of security. So, no, I am not thankful.

Westfield parent here-every parent I know with a HSer is furious, irate, angry, frustrated with this fake security theater BS.
No one is "thankful".
We complained last year when the pilot was a complete failure and got NO response.

Keep complaining - they are banking on parents giving up. As someone said - FCPS is exhausting. They do that by design.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have first period off for plan/ipr you can be assigned the duty. No training needed.

I’d be sending gift baskets weekly to whoever in charge of making schedules and asking to never have a first period free then!

If you don't have this duty then it's bathroom duty, cafeteria duty, etc. later in the day. There are no good options and the extra duties this year are really taking a toll on staff morale.

Unfortunately it’s required for student safety. There are vapes and weapons being brought to school. The detectors and supervision in the halls/bathroom areas help address vaping, fighting, bullying, assaults, and more. FCPS could also ask for parent volunteers. Elementary teachers have always had duties as part of their day. Most parents are thankful for the extra safety precautions and staff supervision. I wish teachers had more time, but FCPS could choose to hire more security guards or allow parebt volunteers. Money could be taken from other places in the budget to fund this. This is an FCPS problem.

Speak for yourself. I and many other parents think this is a performance on par with what Trump is currently doing downtown. The kids aren't safer. There are still plenty of ways for an enterprising student to get a weapon in -- none of the items being put to the side (water bottles, three-ring binders) are getting secondary screening -- and we're increasing the danger by assembling a large group of sitting ducks daily. This is money taken from actual education and spent instead on creating a false sense of security. So, no, I am not thankful.

Westfield parent here-every parent I know with a HSer is furious, irate, angry, frustrated with this fake security theater BS.
No one is "thankful".
We complained last year when the pilot was a complete failure and got NO response.

Keep complaining - they are banking on parents giving up. As someone said - FCPS is exhausting. They do that by design.

110%

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I don't understand, did they fire the people who did those jobs last year (obviously, the metal detector jobs are new, and absurd).

Exactly. These duties should’ve always been in place for student safety. It’s concerning that these duties (hall/bathroom supervision) are just now being implemented. This is why the MS/HS are rampant with fights, vaping, bullying, assaults, and more. Thankfully they are starting to address it so students can be safer at school.

Am I the only one feel my kids is less safe under FCPS new security measure? Hundreds, sometimes over one thousand students gathering outside for long time regularly daily is not safe. The unshielded crowd could become an easy target of mass shooting. Also, how many SROs does each middle and high school have? The long lines outside also need adults to maintain the order and provide protection.

No. I agree with what you wrote and as many have said I'm all for keeping our kids safe but this is not it. My mind is still blown that the athletes and other clubs are int he building in the morning and then asked to leave and come back through the metal detectors. I think we are all smart enough to know that this makes zero sense. As others have said kids are expected to to go to the main building through the metal detectors and then go to trailers....ummm what. Who is checking to make sure kids really are going through metal detectors. Make it make sense.

If the purpose of this is to make the teachers feel more safe from the students, then it makes sense. That may be why the parents and the board were not asked. If there are thousands of kids outside who are a shooting target, then that means the teachers inside the building are not the target. "I do not need to run faster than a bear - I just need to run faster than you."

What...none of this makes sense. Are you saying that FCPS is purposefully putting students at risk?

[Anonymous]

Do the parents complaining about this not realize that the only reason FCPS moved forward with it is because of RELENTLESS parent pressure? FCPS was clear about their reasons for not adding metal detectors for years (namely, cost/throughput/increased risk with kids massed outside of entrances), but after Parklawn, the parent brigade would not let up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the parents complaining about this not realize that the only reason FCPS moved forward with it is because of RELENTLESS parent pressure? FCPS was clear about their reasons for not adding metal detectors for years (namely, cost/throughput/increased risk with kids massed outside of entrances), but after Parklawn, the parent brigade would not let up.

Parklawn....? Do you not realize that most parents did not ask for this and even if this(whatever the Parklawn thing is) was the reason it does not excuse security theater-if you pour money into something like this you also have to be able to do with efficiency and effectiveness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the parents complaining about this not realize that the only reason FCPS moved forward with it is because of RELENTLESS parent pressure? FCPS was clear about their reasons for not adding metal detectors for years (namely, cost/throughput/increased risk with kids massed outside of entrances), but after Parklawn, the parent brigade would not let up.

Lies

[Anonymous]

I am not in favor of this.
BUT.
IF they really want to do this, they need to have 5-6 detectors at two entrances per school. Two persons dedicated to the monitoring all day. Do it right, don't do it half assed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not in favor of this.
BUT.
IF they really want to do this, they need to have 5-6 detectors at two entrances per school. Two persons dedicated to the monitoring all day. Do it right, don't do it half assed.

Also the people manning these machines need to be trained and certified-are they? In addition metal detectors need to be recalibrated-are they? Otherwise it's a show.

[Anonymous]

It is all part of the overall protection scheme for Reid when she visits schools during the day. Nothing more, nothing less. Amazing how much in tax dollars are going to support her highness’s reign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is all part of the overall protection scheme for Reid when she visits schools during the day. Nothing more, nothing less. Amazing how much in tax dollars are going to support her highness’s reign.

Your guess is laughable.
If it is for her, why didn't FCPS just order one set and carry it with Reid everywhere she goes. OpenGate detector is portable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the parents complaining about this not realize that the only reason FCPS moved forward with it is because of RELENTLESS parent pressure? FCPS was clear about their reasons for not adding metal detectors for years (namely, cost/throughput/increased risk with kids massed outside of entrances), but after Parklawn, the parent brigade would not let up.

No way. I haven’t heard any lobbying about this.

[Anonymous]

Ugh they haven’t event started at Robinson but no idea how they are going to manage these huge schools. My kid’s bus was too full today so didn’t even stop for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh they haven’t event started at Robinson but no idea how they are going to manage these huge schools. My kid’s bus was too full today so didn’t even stop for him.

Ummmm what. Well last year my son say on the ground of the bus-also not ok. Meanwhile instead of more bus drivers we are hiring a security team for Reid and a metal detector show for the high schools. Make it make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the parents complaining about this not realize that the only reason FCPS moved forward with it is because of RELENTLESS parent pressure? FCPS was clear about their reasons for not adding metal detectors for years (namely, cost/throughput/increased risk with kids massed outside of entrances), but after Parklawn, the parent brigade would not let up.

No way. I haven’t heard any lobbying about this.

Still waiting to hear the connection with Parklawn or is this crazy Gatehouse making up stories?

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the Westfield parents who raised awareness on this debacle last spring and are still trying to get the problems solved.